IL observations...

[Links r Us]

After a normal week at long last...IL came up 3"es last nite & is on the rise ... my channel has a strong flow n' is muddy ~ I'll add the amount of rain that fell last nite when it stops to make the run to the upper deck to check n' report back...

:( :(

[chopiq]

Thanks for the update Ray. We are going camping at IL state park this weekend and wondered how it was. Are they expecting anymore rain Friday or Saturday? We are going to a grad party there in your neighborhood Saturday night, might stop by and see you.

[Links r Us]

Hi John ... I just streaked out in the sprinkles to check n' dump ~ 3.1"es overnite:eek: :(

Here's the current NWS for my area --
AUGLAIZE-HARDIN-LOGAN-MERCER-SHELBY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BELLEFONTAINE...CELINA...KENTON...SIDNEY...
WAPAKONETA
956 AM EDT FRI JUN 11 2004

UPDATED FOR WATCH

FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM EDT

TODAY
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BECOMING LESS NUMEROUS LATE.
RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES. HIGHS 70 TO 75. EAST WINDS AROUND
10 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 100 PERCENT.

TONIGHT
MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING...THEN BECOMING PARTLY
CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING.
LOWS AROUND 60. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 30
PERCENT.

SATURDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS AROUND 80. EAST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH IN THE
MORNING...BECOMING LIGHT AND VARIABLE IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF
RAIN 30 PERCENT.

SATURDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE
OF RAIN 30 PERCENT.

SUNDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 40
PERCENT.


-better bring cat-bait for the main or panfish the channels with the better water ... here we go again!!!

[Links r Us]

-I just dumped another .7 inches outta the rain gauge with No end in site @ present. Look out Dayton cuz we be puttin' some water in the GMR for sure!!!:eek: :D

[Links r Us]

Just dumped another 2.2"es outta the rain gauge & that's not countin' the white rocks that covered the ground around 8:30pm:eek:

My lil' channel is flowin' faster than my walkin' speed along with the water runnin' downhill from up above that even made it into my garage tryin' to find a way to the channel ....

Fishin' doesn't look too good for awhile for sure:rolleyes: ;)

[Links r Us]

We had another .45 inch this afternoon .. Karp are roto-rootin' in the yards:rolleyes: :p

http://www.examiner.org/new_nov_11/index.php

[CritterGitter]

Ray, if you can get over to Alum Creek the lower end of the lake is still in pretty good shape and the reports I am getting is that a lot of guys are trolling up tons of saugeye. It might be worth a look!

CG

[Links r Us]

Thanks, sounds good, but I got rid of the trailers in 90 or 91 ... thinkin' about spendin' some time up to Erie with friends, unless the pond up North is flooded too ... just razzin':)

Bro Rick said the Hoover Eyes are hittin' also..

Take Care n' Hang a Hog!!! :D
Ray

[Spring fever]

Links---

Sure wanted to try the eyes at IL this week. How will the high water affect the bite out on the open lake? I know the channels will be muddy but what about else where :confused: Tuesday is supposed to be clear all day.

[Links r Us]

I don't have a clue ... many on the main lately have been chasin' dinks which are easy to come by ~ The over 3s have slowed up for me before the flood n' I was thinkin' nite-bite this week.

Yesterday from the upper deck with Bi-nocs the Northside to Blackhawk was mud ~ out in the center of the main I could see streaks of green mixed with streaks of yellow in the whitecaps ... I might go out later & take a look-see in the Beater I-Boat...

later Gator --

[Spring fever]

Thanks for the info, I may give it a try today.



Springfever.:)

[Links r Us]

I just came in off the lake cuz the sky turned black again
:rolleyes: :(

The Main looked real good & even the Cut to Old IL .. I only trolled the Wolf B-line so I don't know about into Old IL. On the way back I swung by the gap to the old Northside Ski area & the yucky mudline started on the main between Red Oak n' Johnson Isle & was pure mud by the time you hit A-Bay.... I didn't checkout the Westside Blackhawk channel but Eastside Blackhawk channel was good --

[Links r Us]

Ran into Lucky's friend Byrd n' chatted for awhile on the way out to the main ... is that the same Byrd that is on OS?? If it is say Hi Byrd n' quit Lurkin' - heheh :rolleyes: :cool: :D

[Links r Us]

The GMR is a-sendin' Dayton another gift - eek!!! :eek:

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
139 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR...
LOGAN COUNTY IN OHIO

* UNTIL 445 PM EDT

* WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER SOUTHERN LOGAN COUNTY. UP TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN SINCE 1230 PM ...WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE WITH A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA THROUGH 4 PM.

[CritterGitter]

All this rain is quite a damper. I have Friday off work and will get off early Thursday. I hope things clear up by then. I hope to hit Hoover Thursday and Alum on Friday morning. The lower end of those resevoirs should hold up even though the water levels will be high.

Ray I fished the big pond last weekend and I'll post under that thread.

CG

[Links r Us]

Will it rain, or will the waters drain?
High waters force evacuation of DeGraff family

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Will it rain, or will the waters drain?
High waters force evacuation of DeGraff family
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tim Davidson, left, and Lynn Davidson, seated, of the Quincy Fire Department, prepare to make another trip upstream after delivering three-year-old Caleb Reisinger, 3, to safety Tuesday along the Great Miami River near DeGraff. Chad Kean is carrying Caleb. Jeremy Barthauer, second from right, also assisted. (Examiner photo by Doug Loehr)

By Doug Loehr and Brian J. Evans
Examiner Staff Writers
6/16/04

The swelling flood waters of 2004 are starting to look like a carbon copy of the flood of 2003, according to a few local residents: There's been rain, rain and ... of course, more rain. ...

Now, with summer only a few days away, a lot of flood victims are asking themselves: When will all this water go away? Weather forecasts include additional rain throughout the week.

Jerry Reisinger and his sons Caleb, 3, and Ben, 7, were evacuated shortly after noon Tuesday from their residence on a hillside along Township Road 229, bordering the Great Miami River near DeGraff.

The family was stranded for almost two days until they received aid from the Quincy and DeGraff fire departments. They will stay with a relative until the waters along the river recede.

Using a personal watercraft vehicle owned by Quincy firefighter Lynn Davidson, the Quincy Fire Department rescued the Reisinger family one by one as the boys' grandmother, Debbie Kouse of Bellefontaine, waited nearby with open arms and an expression of relief as she watched their safe return to dry land. The rescuers initially tried to tow a rowboat to the family, but a leak found in the boat thwarted that plan.

"I don't know if they needed food or water or what, but they just needed to get out of there," said Quincy Assistant Fire Chief Chad Kean. "They've been stuck in there (since Sunday) and there's a good four or five feet of water all along the roadway."

The river typically floods T.R. 229 after heavy rainfall, village rescue workers say, and the last two years they've seen extended periods of high water covering the road, making it impassable.

"On Monday the (river) water wasn't a concern yet," said Ms. Kouse. "But after the heavy storm Monday afternoon and Monday night, the water kept getting closer and closer to the house. The kids called me and asked me if I could drive across the fields to get them. When I told them I couldn't do that, they wanted to wade across the fields and come to me."

Monday afternoon, Logan County officials declared the county a state of emergency to set the stage for state aid for flood victims.

Helen Norris, director of the Logan County Emergency Management Agency, asks residents to report significant flood damages to her office at 593-5743.

In Bellefontaine, residents can arrange for pickup of items damaged by floods by calling Mayor Bob Lentz' office at 592-4376.

Other city and county officials advise flood victims to contact:

The Logan County Health Department at 592-9040 about what to save from flood damage.
The Logan County Red Cross at 592-1622 or www.redcross.com for a free pamphlet about how to repair homes from flood damage.

http://www.examiner.org/new_nov_11/index.php

[bill_gfish]

I just streaked out in the sprinkles to check n' dump ~ 3.1"es overnite

First Ray, keep the clothes on the neighbors been complaining. Second, ain't you got plumbing, dumping on the deck will eventually end up in your boat. And finally, not sure why you are checking it outside but at 3.1 "es, the viagra ain't working!!!!!!!! :eek:

:D bill

[Links r Us]

Originally posted by bill_gfish
First Ray, keep the clothes on the neighbors been complaining. Second, ain't you got plumbing, dumping on the deck will eventually end up in your boat. And finally, not sure why you are checking it outside but at 3.1 "es, the viagra ain't working!!!!!!!! :eek:

:D bill

Bill ~ Guilty on all counts! :eek: :eek: :rolleyes:

Just came back to IL after a couple of days @ Erie and Indian is at normal pool again by lookin' at my channel -- But it's grass time again asap:( ;)

-time to switch gears from S-Heads to C-Cats while on the Eye chase - heheh:D

[Spring fever]

Usually fish through the week at IL but since my son could only go on Friday eve we gave it a shot. I do believe we were the only ones trolling on the whole lake. It was pretty tough with all the pleasure boaters but we did manage to take 4 eyes. Only nice eaters but still fun. Hopefully next week I can get serious again.


SF :)

[Links r Us]

SF ~ had a good afternoon in the clear channels n' pad-lines ... main lake looked fair, but the old northside ski area - NF - dream - old IL was still krappy...the surface water looked better a half mile south of dream, but had muddy water 2-3' down when I checked/surface slide from main...

-9 over 20 w/25" tops

[Links r Us]

from yesterdays hard-work dink n' K-fish 3 hour & 14 mile gps troll till I found the 3-4 pod area...

9 lb 2oz with close to 20-25 over 20... Plus one movin' stump that I didn't get to see n' lost while takin' the PB off...bite slowed n' died a lil' after 4 pm with get off work boat traffic or plain Ole' L-jaw....

-I had 2 nines by this time last year, so it's time to shut-up n' fish:)

[Orlando]

Ray , Are you going to be home Friday morning. I haven't been out on the water for over four weeks ( I have a couple of herniated disks in my back) and thought I would stop by and introduce myself. I'll be in a white Ranger.

[Links r Us]

Orlando ... I think so, but I'm slow gettin' around & don't answer the door till after my shower around 11am & usually load the boat up around 11:30 to Noon ... tomorrow's weather report looks to be a poor day with North winds again --

FRIDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.

I just came in off the lake with nada for 2 hours ... yesterdays pod has moved & the bay temp was 77.4 degrees at noon between North channel & the Walnuts, some were in the new shortcut channel to A-bay also...

The Main has whitecaps today & is rough ... if it clouds over & the wind lays a lil' I might go back out again, but on the main ... the water still looks very poor with kinda a muddy yellow A-bloom.

PS ... the Chippewa state marina looks to be close to completion & they are layin' blacktop today & the double ramp concrete work looks to be done to the water line, but they haven't put the underwater steel pivot section ramp in yet -- just a big underwater boulder base, so don't launch here....

[Spring fever]

LrU

Looks like you had a good day Wed. Man I tried 4 different colored Rattle Traps at various speeds in all my hotspots from about 8AM till noon but nata eye. Too bull headed to try another type of crank bait. Wanted to go this morn and was ready by 7:00 but the wind kicked up pretty good so I decided to hold off till Fri. or Mon.

SF :)

[Links r Us]

SF .. this time of year try Strag trollin' with a pair of PB's n' SSR7s in firetiger & shad till you locate ... even then, if it's a scattered area pod I'll leave out one PB with color that drew the action & work the Trap on the opposite side ... if it's a slam, just the Trap will do unless I'm runnin' a PB a foot or so off a pad edge like the last two days... (heheh-I'd win alot of Bass tourneys if-in' they would let me troll)

Alot of the eater/dink slammers are hi-speedin' vibes n' such, but I'm interested in real Eyes n' no#s, while lookin' for a sUMo mixed in with a good pod of over 20s.

I think it's bug-eatin' season with some BODs mixed in...

[Links r Us]

I just talked to 2 guys in a white Ranger beside the fishin' shack cold-front pre-fishin' for tomorrows tourney ... we had alot of thunder-bumpers & .015" of rain earlier this morn' besides the cool Jacket weather... gonna go troll the grocery stores n' shop, instead of the lake this afternoon I think... I got a BOD, but didn't want it with a C'Front n' T'Bangers;)

PS..in addition to yesterdays all-day high winds, in the eve we got .55" inch of rain n' bangers before the wind died down & shifted to the NE last nite....

[Orlando]

Ray,
I didn't make it up today. Had to install some plumbing for my Dad. I'll catch you another day.

[nofish]

Hey Links,

Would you be willing to elaborate on what 'Strag Trolling' is ? What color Trap would ya be throwing at them I.L. eyes?

Appreciate it,
nofish

[Spring fever]

NoFish, I'm glad you ask that question (about strag trolling) so I won't have to. LOL




SF---Wildcat country.

[Links r Us]

-to proceed or spread out in a scattered or irregular group

-one or two loops when I hit a eye for a check, then back to slow Ss runnin' down good breaks/banks/points/pad-lines/stump areas/slot tops/mud lines for "that days conditions" -- searchin' for honeys...

[Links r Us]

sometimes when I've lost the eyes/pattern on large, shallow, structure filled IL it'll take a couple of 10-20 long eye-days of strag trollin' n' method changin' to develope a Lock.

How do you guys go about locatin' the good eyes?? ~ please don't say off someones elses back;)

:D

[Links r Us]

-you never eliminate good areas "for the conditions" -- you only eliminate that area for that time of day or nite that you checked it ~ get the drift?? ... at lot of work n' gas goes into puttin' the puzzle back together once mother nature has scambled the pieces...

[Links r Us]

-did the above replies answer your Qs?? ;)

... or was I Shootin' Blanks to Cyber-Land when I coulda been Rod-bendin'?:D

-just razzin', cuz I don't do much movin' before noon any day, yet alone when bug-eatin'/nite-bite season arrives:)

:D

[nofish]

Yep, LrU you covered it well!! I guess I've sort of been strag trollin' without knowing it had a name. When I get to I.L. I never have a clue what the pattern is and just head out trollin' varying speeds and lure colors hoping to stumble on a bite that's worth circling back for another pass. Living on the shore and getting on the water everyday like you do is a real blessing---hope you're saying THANKS!

I usually use PB's at I.L. due to the thin water but I see alot of boats pulling cranks straight back. Talked to a tackle shop owner on the ramp who doesn't believe PB's are necessary. Says he has 'eyes wack his cranks right in the prop wash. What's your take on PBs on I.L.?

[Links r Us]

Not Random ... My Strag Trollin' has a Lil'-Clue based on time-of-year n' locations for that day's conditions since I was the age of 4 yro on IL ~ then I slop around in them for a look-see in each to see if I can get lucky --

-actually summer dog day's give me new energy after gettin' saited on the mid-March to mid-June Eye-bite ~ it allows me time to plot & try new twists/methods on a tuff day-bite, along with just plain kickin' back with the ETM AP w/main in gear n' doin' grid passes on the main for stumps/etc ... now & then there is a BOD day-bite mixed in ... yesterday 2 of my neighbors (Web n' Bob) took their toons out to mid-lake & did well in the early afternoon --

[Links r Us]

... I've kinda noticed in the last week or so that the 3 smallest I-classes seem to be the 8-10" water skiiers - the 13.5-15" dinks - the 17.5-18.5 eaters ....


T-O-D -the Dinks are makin' a mayfly mess in the boat, so unhook/release them over the boat-side - ty .... the Eaters are spittin' up shad ~ therefore the two classes have been mostly in different locations;)

[nofish]

LrU, No doubt, your strag trollin' is directed, mine is random. Only been on I.L. 3x this yr, maybe I'll gradually learn its subtle structure. In my last post (7/1) I asked you your take on PBs on I.L., appreciate your opinion if you have the time.

nofish

[Links r Us]

I live by the Tap n' Glide for Castin' & Trollin' when the hot slam-bite isn't on ... if you've been close to me on the water you'll have noticed that I'll be slow pumpin' the inside rod (not a rip n' tear) ~ I can also do the same with a pair of PBs if the bite is slow or I have bummed-out shoulders with a PB wheel-wiggle...

Originally posted by nofish
In my last post (7/1) I asked you your take on PBs on I.L., appreciate your opinion if you have the time.

nofish

-some more posted OS PB info --
http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=4195

Overall, I'd say that I use them for a slow-bite/Strag fishin' - just to relax & kick back with friends - along with a tool for runnin' pad-lines & banks up close n' personal...

It's kinda like askin' me why I have a zillion lures but I'm not usin' them all at the same time ... everything is a tool to me n' I pick what I think would be the best choice given' the conditions & go from there:)